Guest:Thank you for your ideas! ( should I give Belle a sword?) And for you, I'll keep the ending the same. I love Belle, but you're right, I should stick to the movie. ;^^;

Keep reviewing! I know there are more than two people reading my story. I love getting reviews! It helps my muse and it inspires me. Please review! .

Chapter 5

The next day, Monsieur Firmin walked into the grand foyer of carrying a parchment paper envelope with the skull seal and a newspaper. He looked around . The foyer was empty except for a few people cleaning. He starts reading the paper aloud, "'Mystery after gala night' it says,'Mystery of the tenor's flight!' "Mystified,' all the papers say,'We are mystified-we suspect foul play!' Bad news on the tenor scene-first El Carlos now Charles! Still at least the seats get sold-gossip's worth its weight in gold..." He walks around then up the stairs. "What a way to run a business! Spare me these unending trials. Half your cast disappears, but the crowd still cheers! Opera! To hell with Gluck and Handel-Have a scandal and you're sure to have a hit!" Monsieur Firmin turns as he hears Monsieur Andre coming up the stairs.

"Damnable? Will they all walk out? This is damnable!"

"Andre, please don't shout...it free publicity! And the take is vast! Free publicity!"

"But we have no cast..." Monsieur Andre groaned.

"But, Andre, have you seen the queue?" He notices Monsieur Andre was holding the same envelope he was. "Oh, it seems you've got one too..."

Monsieur Andre opens his envelope and reads the letter aloud, "'Dear Andre, what a charming gala! Charles enjoyed a great success! We were hardly bereft when El Carlos left-otherwise, the chorus was entrancing, but the dancing was an inevitable mess!'"

Monsieur Firmin read his. "'Dear Firmin, just a quick reminder: my salary has not been paid. Send it care of the ghost, by return of post- P.T.O.:'" He turns it over. "' no one likes a debtor, so it's better if my orders are obeyed!'"

Both men lean against the staircase railing and look at each other. "Who would have the gall to send this? Someone with a puerile brain!"

Monsieur Firmin takes both letters and studies them. "They are both signed "O.G..."

"Who the hell is he?"

They both gasp. "Opera Ghost!"

Monsieur Andre blinks a couple times. "I thought they said the Opera Ghost was a woman?"

Monsieur Firmin throws his hands in the air. "God knows, Andre! Although I have to say, these letters do look like a woman's handwriting. But it's nothing short of shocking"

"She is mocking our position"

"In addition she wants money!"

"What a funny apparition.."

Together, "...to expect a large retainer! Nothing plainer-she is clearly quite insane!"

Rachel bursts through the door and makes her way up the stairs toward the managers "Where is he?"

"You mean El Carlos?"

"I mean Monsieur Daae -where is he?"

"Well, how should we know?"

"I want an an answer-I take it that you sent me this note?" She was holding a parchment envelope with the skull seal.

"What's all this nonsense?"

"Of course not!"

"Don't look at us!"

She gave them a puzzled look."He's not with you, then?"

"Of course not!"

"We're in the dark..."

"Monsieurs, don't argue-isn't this the letter you wrote?"

"And what is it that we're meant to have wrote," Rachel and Monsieur Andre looked at him. "Written!"

Rachel hands the letter to Monsieur Andre. He reads it"'Do not fear for Monsieur Daae. The Angel of Music has him under her wing. Make no attempts to see him again.'"

"Well, if you didn't write it, who did?" Rachel begins to think, and a realization strikes her. "Last night when I came back to Charles dressing room from ordering my carriage, I heard a woman's voice. It was singing." She began to cry.

The managers looked at each other. They tried to comfort her when El Carlos came in with La Piangia in-tow.

"Where is she?" El Carlos yelled as they came up the stairs.

"Ah, welcome back!" Monsieur Andre smiled.

"Your precious patron-where is she?"

"What is it now?" Rachel wiped her eyes and looked at him indignantly.

"I have your letter-a letter which I rather resent!"

"And did you send it?"

Rachel glanced at him shocked."Of course not!".

"As if she would!"

"You didn't send it?" El Carlos and La Piangia looked at her with surprise.

"Of course not!"

"What's going on...?" Monsieur Firmin inquired.

"You dare to tell me that this is not the letter you sent?" El Carlos looks directly at Rachel.

"And what is it that I'm meant to have sent?" Rachel took the parchment letter from El Carlos hands.

She read it aloud. "'Your days at the Opera Populaire are number. Charles Daae will be singing on your behalf tonight. Be prepared for a great misfortune, should you attempt to take his place.'"

The managers looked at each other and sighed. "Far too many notes for my taste-and most of them about Charles! All we've heard since we came is Monsieur Daae's name..."

Everyone walked down the stairs when Madame Giry walked in, followed by Matt. "Monsieur Daae has returned."

"I hope no worse for wear as far as we're concerned." Monsieur Firmin glanced at Rachel.

"Where precisely is he now?" Monsieur Andre inquired.

"I thought it best he were alone..."

Matt stepped forward. "He needed rest..."

Rachel stepped towards Madame Giry. "May I see him?"

"No, mademoiselle, he will see no one."

El Carlos and La Piangia asked fervently, "Will he sing, will he sing?"

Madame Giry pulls out a parchment envelope. "Here, I have a note..."

Everyone groans. Rachel, El Carlos, Piangia, and Monsieur Andre walked towards her. "Let me see it!"

Monsieur Firmin grabbed it from her hand first. "Please!" He opens the letter and begins to read it aloud. "'Gentlemen, I have now sent you several notes of the most amiable nature, detailing how my theater is to be run. You have not followed my instructions. I shall give you one last chance. Charles Daae has returned to, and I am anxious that his career should progress. In the new production of Il Muto, you will cast Monsieur Daae in the role of Don Attilio. El Carlos will just have to play a minor role in this production. I shall watch the performance from my normal seat in Box Five, which will be kept empty for me. Should these commands be ignored, a disaster beyond you imagination will occur. I remain, gentlemen, your obedient servant, O.G.'"

As Monsieur Firmin finishes, El Carlos grabs the letter and begins to yell. "This a ploy to help that Charles!" He points at Rachel. "She's the one who sent this-the Viscountess-his lover!"

Rachel glares at him. "Indeed? Can you believe it?" she asked with an ironical tone in her voice.

The managers looked at El Carlos. "Please Senor, just for one performance?"

"No! If I do not play the lead, I do not play at all!" He started to stomp off. "Come on, Piangia, they obviously do not need us."
"But I am playing Countess! I have to fulfill my artistic duties as the main role."

"Well, if the managers want their Countess, they have to give me Don Attilio."

"Wait Senor! You can have the role, just please don't leave," Monsieur Firmin begged.

El Carlos smirked. "If you insist."

Everyone except Madame Giry, Rachel, and Matt. Madame Giry stepped forward. "Monsieurs, I don't think it is wise for you to provoke the Phantoms' anger further."

The managers glared at her. "We do not take orders from a ghost!"

Everyone walked away. Little did they know, Belle was in the shadows and had heard the entire conversation. 'Don't take orders? Well, a little persuasion wouldn't hurt. I think I'll make the Toad croak. That should be fun!' She smirked and slid deeper into the shadows.

I excluded Prima Donna, I hope no one is upset. I felt it really wasn't necessary. Don't forget to review. If any one has ideas for parts, other than Don Juan and Il Muto, please tell them! R&R!